Driver 4: Parallel Lines Preview

By Tom Bramwell Published 28 October, 2005

Heading home.

Yellow lines. To drivers they say, "stop and you're in trouble". They're the only things on the road I can easily respect! And while my knowledge of symbols is about as advanced as my plan for world domination (current status: I'll do it later), we can probably all infer something from this: I have no idea what the road markings are like in Driver 4. Gareth Edmonson, demoing, simply didn't stop long enough for me to get a good look. The only yellow lines in Driver 4 are the big fat ones that make up the back-to-back l's in the "Parallel Lines" logo. To me they say, "no parking". Apt.

Typically, he'd be hurtling along, switching in and out of the bumper-cam to demonstrate the sense of speed, lurching left and right as he weaved through traffic, the banshee tyres wailing as he threw the car almost sideways into any available alley. Where there was a low fence, a slight ground elevation bounced him over it. Where he brushed walls and cars, the speed-o-meter barely measured a snick. Fast and fluid. Like an extension of the original Driver, in fact. I've no more grown in stature as a symbolist in the last 200 words than I have dominated the world (status: need to Hoover first), but maybe... maybe those parallel lines could be a Roman numeral II. Driver... II? Are we going back in time? Actually that one I can do. This is 70s New York, so yes, we are.

But back to the point at hand. Where Driver 3 smacked you in the face with pop-up lamp-posts whenever you got behind the wheel, seemingly intent on making you stop, Driver 4 guns through them like it's chopping tomatoes. WITH A GUN. During a half-hour presentation of the PS2 version, Edmonson talked about how traffic density governed the difficulty level - while that was obviously true, it was Driver 4's object density that seemed to govern fun. Lamp-posts broke over the top of the car like matchsticks, boxes and crates popped like bubbles of debris, metal fencing practically danced out of the way and people tumbled over the bonnet like balloon animals.

'Driver 4: Parallel Lines' Screenshot 1

Er, we'll wait for the next cab.

I imagine that Driver 4 won't claim to be about driving realism. It's about driving fun, free from frustration. If you fail a mission, you can hit Select to respawn at the start again. You can preview mission objectives on the map screen without having to commit to their parameters. You can see all the starting points and mini-games strewn across the city of New York at a glance. You can tune up cars then save them off to the Memory Card to access them later. You can see why TK, Driver 4's cocksure 70s wheelman, can get away living a breezy life in a Blow-style bubble. Next to Driver's traditional front-man Tanner - an undercover cop blasting his way round a world that seemed designed to prevent him flooring it - he's an apposite choice.

Mission variety is promising. Edmonson demoed several, and each looked fun. One was a circuit race round a figure-of-eight, but the goal was to finish second; apparently TK's odds were shot because he kept winning. Another was a bike race round a park circuit. While there will be plenty of story-driven missions that involve delivering cars, ditching the cops, driving people to destinations and so on, Reflections is also working on a range of mini-games that take the form of street and circuit races, demolition derbies, hitman contracts, stealing to order - that kind of thing. There will be some that involve getting out of the car, but Edmonson says you'll mostly only do this to switch rides. When you are forced to shoot, the auto-lock-on/strafing should put pay to anything.

'Driver 4: Parallel Lines' Screenshot 2

Their headlights met over a crowded intersection.

If you get held up on a particular mission, you'll find the mini-games build up your cash stocks. Reflections expects people to spend 30-40 per cent of their time on these, and the cash earned can be invested in tuning. In the garage, you can see your car's felony rating, its current top speed, damage and equipped nitros, and then add decals, spoilers, or more direct engine enhancements to push it harder. And if you're still stuck despite the faster car, Edmonson points out that you'll almost always have more than one main story mission available to you.

Visually it's not as dramatically detailed as some areas of Driver 3, particularly as it was on Xbox, but it's certainly comparable to Grand Theft Auto - like a less toonified, slicker version in fact. The frame rate looks consistent, and pop-up is far less pronounced. In the section said to be closest to completion, draw distance was excellent. The cars themselves mash up nicely, and visual effects elsewhere all contribute healthily - shadows lengthen as the day and night complete their cycle, nothing just pops up ten feet in front of your car, and during his demo Edmonson would continually hurtle down alleyways swatting clutter out of his path and not once snagging on a concrete arch or pointless obstacle. He did hit the odd ramp, mind you, revealing the game's cutaway thrill-camera now so familiar to fans of the genre, but ramps are a good thing.

'Driver 4: Parallel Lines' Screenshot 3

GET BACK IN THE CAR.

At the start of the demo, Edmonson said Reflections had given Driver 3 an extensive post-mortem, deciding to chop or change anything the masses were unhappy with, and that the clear objective was to make a totally new game. In a broader sense, this clearly isn't a totally new game. It's familiar, homely; it's about lurching between startled cabs and dithering U-hauls, striping the pavement with tyre burns as you try to lose the heat on your tail. It's between alpha and beta now, we're told, so the physics need tweaking and there are some graphical issues, like tyres merging slightly with the road surface and unfinished cut-scenes. But it's much more exciting a prospect than I'd expected. The fact that Reflections' last game was Driver 3 provokes scepticism in everyone, but right now Driver 4 certainly looks fun. When it parks up, we'll be there waiting.

Driver 4: Parallel Lines is due out on PS2 and Xbox in early-to-mid 2006.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (41) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Senor_Sanchez #1 6 years ago

    I hope its back on track for the Driver team! D1 was ACE!

  • Hench #2 6 years ago

    I agree, Driver 1 was good and then they started to get worse.

    Let's hope this game is a good improvement :)

  • bionutz #3 6 years ago

    /not convinced.

  • malteaserhead #4 6 years ago

    I nearly bought driver 3 for the xbox last night! £4 ...
    /thinks again about buying it ...gets worried

  • Eldritch #5 6 years ago

    "Are those really PS2 screens?"

    Are those really REAL-TIME PS2 screens?

  • gizmo #6 6 years ago

    Driver 3 looked like it had been knocked up in 3D racer construction set by a 14 kid in his bedroom. Hope this is better, it has so much potential.

  • Eldritch #7 6 years ago

    They might get a 15 year old this time.

  • Flightrisker #8 6 years ago

    I can't believe it's not called drIVer, they love that shit.

  • Aretak #9 6 years ago

    Driv3r was unbelievably bad... surely they can't screw up that badly again... can they?

  • Ginger #10 6 years ago

    Driv4r :)

  • Xerx3s #11 6 years ago

    Argh, for the love of god, NOT ANOTHER ONE! Poking yerself in the eye with an icepick was a better and more plesant experience that playing part 3.

    Ahh well, it can only go uphill from nowon....right? I mean, they cant get any lower eh?

  • tiddles #12 6 years ago

    I can't believe it's not called drIVer, they love that shit.

    And everyone ripped the piss out of them for it...

    Looks promising - maybe they've finally made a proper Driver 2!

  • Madder-Max #13 6 years ago

    "If you fail a mission, you can hit Select to respawn at the start again. "

    oooh. tries.....to.......resist.....the hype.....gnnnng!

  • Kiigan #14 6 years ago

    "but right now Driver 4 certainly looks fun"

    Lies like this make baby Jesus cry.

  • smelly #15 6 years ago

    from my understanding (of those in the know) most of the v3 team have been replaced by new people.

    So dont judge it by v3's standards. I wont hold my breath tho'.

  • TripSkyway #16 6 years ago

    I had some fun with driver 3, not a lot mind but some.

  • knif3r #17 6 years ago

    GAWD I'm sick of games with mini-games. Soon the mini-games are gonna have mini-games etc etc etc

  • Kami #18 6 years ago

    After Driv3r... umm... my expectations of this are this great...

    *points to the gap between his foot and the floor*

  • BadBoyBonner #19 6 years ago

    PS2 screens????
    Can't help but notice that the screens are the same 640 x 360 (i.e. half 720 Progressive scan res used on Xbox 360) resolution and without a single jagged line to be seen?
    No doubt they will say it’s the rendering engine at a different res, while this maybe so it’s not exactly giving a true indication surely?
    Sounds like the previously pain inducing play mechanics are finally getting there (i.e. lamppost = matchstick)

    Fingers crossed for reflections as seeing the Amiga load screen bearing it's name still sends the odd shiver down the spine; can’t help but feel this maybe their last chance??
    Edited by 1 at 28/10/05 @ 11:20

  • VibratingDonkey #20 6 years ago

    Will the buggy AI still be there? It was one of the few things that actually occasionally made the game fun.

  • Artemus #21 6 years ago

    The new hero looks a bit of a prat.

  • Eighthours #22 6 years ago

    At the start of the demo, Edmonson said Reflections had given Driver 3 an extensive post-mortem, deciding to chop or change anything the masses were unhappy with

    How many jokes can be made out of this line? Off the scale!!
    Edited by 1 at 28/10/05 @ 15:36

  • Stickman #23 6 years ago

    "At the start of the demo, Edmonson said Reflections had given Driver 3 an extensive post-mortem, deciding to chop or change anything the masses were unhappy with "

    Surely a contender for shortest game ever?!

  • freedumb #24 6 years ago

    'Where Driver 3 smacked you in the face with pop-up lamp-posts whenever you got behind the wheel, seemingly intent on making you stop'

    I don't agree. I've never had this problem with Driver 3, at least on the Xbox. The whole, 'pop-up, bugs, glitches' thing was true to an extent, but overplayed. You can have a lot of fun in Driver 3, all it good points were completely overlooked (such as the incrdible physics engine, and most realistc damage engine).

    Are you sure it wasn't your driving ability that caused that, lol?
    Edited by 3 at 28/10/05 @ 12:36

  • El_MUERkO #25 6 years ago

    Driver 1 was fun, I played it for months after I'd beaten it, just ripping around getting police to chase me, everything reflections have done since then has been progressively less fun, I'd love to see a true Driver 2 come out, will watch its progress but I aint preordering yet.

  • Cosmopolitan #26 6 years ago

    "I don't agree. I've never had this problem with Driver 3, at least on the Xbox. The whole, 'pop-up, bugs, glitches' thing was true to an extent, but overplayed. You can have a lot of fun in Driver 3, all it good points were completely overlooked (such as the incrdible physics engine, and most realistc damage engine). "

    Have to agree with this post. I almost completed Driv3r on a rental, well, except for the very last mission, and it WAS fun. You have to be able to look past the bugs to enjoy it though. Then again, I may be a different kind of gamer, since I even enjoyed Driver 2 ;-)
    Edited by 1 at 28/10/05 @ 13:32

  • Merefield #27 6 years ago

    "I don't agree. I've never had this problem with Driver 3, at least on the Xbox. The whole, 'pop-up, bugs, glitches' thing was true to an extent, but overplayed. You can have a lot of fun in Driver 3, all it good points were completely overlooked (such as the incrdible physics engine, and most realistc damage engine). "

    Have to agree with this post. I almost completed Driv3r on a rental, well, except for the very last mission, and it WAS fun. You have to be able to look past the bugs to enjoy it though. Then again, I may be a different kind of gamer, since I even enjoyed Driver 2 ;-)

    I agree, I really enjoyed Driver 3 and its one of the few games I've completed.

    A real challenge too in places (in a good way)
    Edited by 1 at 28/10/05 @ 14:43

  • magicpocket #28 6 years ago

    Well, it certainly reads like you enjoyed what you saw. That's a brave thing to say as it's 'cool' to knock Driv3r.

    *Waits impatiently and hopefully for review*

  • Merefield #29 6 years ago

    it's 'cool' to knock Driv3r.

    Yes, and most of those who knocked it never saw much of it.

    The mission where you chuck bombs out the back of the truck to blow up the pursuing tin-can police cars was hilarious, had me rolling around the floor.

  • Artemus #30 6 years ago

    I had the PS2 copy of Driver 3 and didn't notice that many bugs. Alright it's far from perfect but I personally thought it was quite good fun. The car handling is done better than GTA imho. Either the Xbox version was a lot worse or the problems were extremely exagerated. I suspect the latter due the enormous hype.

  • Cosmopolitan #31 6 years ago

    To 'add insult to injury' - in kinda opposite meaning of the word - I also immensely enjoyed fiddling with those replays in Driv3r. Pure fun watching your action from various camera angles. Can't see why this is not included in EVERY game of similar kind (GTA?), must be the memory restriction.

  • Teeth #32 6 years ago

    " GAWD I'm sick of games with mini-games. Soon the mini-games are gonna have mini-games etc etc etc"

    That's fucking genius, dude! The game in a game in a game! In a game!



    ... in a game!

  • Vin #33 6 years ago

    Why bother with another this gen?

    Daft.

  • IronGiant #34 6 years ago

    "Why bother with another this gen?"

    Might have something to do with the millions and millions of gamers with current gen machines, makes good business sense to me.

  • #35 6 years ago

    Indestructable lamposts, no thanks.
    i did have fun with the movie making thing though.

  • tengu #36 6 years ago

    "Why bother with another this gen?"

    Because the next gen sucks shit?

  • eVoLvE #37 6 years ago

    Hi, Firefox (web browser) has released a new contest in which you can win a Ipod...

    http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=affiliates&id=143769&t=1

  • matt__jon #38 6 years ago

    One thing they unfortunately had to do (although I never used it, still a good feature) to get the game running faster is take out the director mode, since that puts a lot of drag on the game. So now we have 3 times the amount of traffic in D3.

  • funkyd #39 6 years ago

    Yo i bought driver 1,2 AND DRIVER 3.... so i hope they make a big improvement on the third part after the aboslute piece of CRAP (turd, excrement etc) that was driv3r.............HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  • cardboardMonster #40 6 years ago

    "GET BACK IN THE CAR"

    Damn straight.

  • admir #41 6 years ago

    I cant belive some people enjoyed driver3

  • Madder-Max #42 6 years ago

    "To 'add insult to injury' - in kinda opposite meaning of the word - I also immensely enjoyed fiddling with those replays in Driv3r. Pure fun watching your action from various camera angles. Can't see why this is not included in EVERY game of similar kind (GTA?), must be the memory restriction. "

    Back in the day when aye were a lad and all things were 2d and GTA was top down, there was controversy then about GTA going 3d due to players being able to record footage; resulting in violent 'films' on the memory card that would be far more gory, violent etc than actual films. TBH when GTAIII came out I was gobsmacked because I never thought that they would be able to get it on the shelf, but they have and my world is a much better place as aresult!